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Catholic Prayers

Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Our Father

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Glory Be

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

Act of Contrition

My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things.

I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Saviour Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In His name. My God have mercy.

Spiritual Communion

I wish, my Lord, to receive you, with the purity, humility and devotion with which your most holy Mother received you, with the spirit and fervour of the saints.

Angelus

• V/. The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:
• R/. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit (Hail Mary).
• V/. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
• R/. Be it done unto me according to Thy word (Hail Mary).
• V/. And the Word was made Flesh.
• R/. And dwelt among us (Hail Mary).
• V/. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
• R/. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray:

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord.

Blessed be your Purity

Blessed be your purity, May it be blessed for ever, For no less than God takes delight In such exalted beauty. To you, heavenly Princess, Holy Virgin Mary, I offer on this day My whole heart, life, and soul. Look upon me with compassion; Do not leave me, my mother.

The Memorare

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.

Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.

Salve Regina (Hail, Holy Queen)

Hail, holy Queen, mother of Mercy. Hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping, in this vale of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us; and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet virgin Mary.

• V/. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
• R/. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Consecration to the Blessed Virgin

My Queen and my Mother, I give myself entirely to you and, in proof of my affection, I give you my eyes, my ears, my tongue, my heart, my whole being without reserve. Since I am your own, keep me, guard me as your property and possession. Amen.

Guardian Angel Prayer

Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here, ever this day, be at my side, to light and guard, Rule and guide.

Prayer to Saint Joseph (Pope Francis)

Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. To you God intrusted His only Son; In you Mary placed her trust; With you Christ became Man. Blessed Joseph, to us too, show yourself a father and guide us in the path of life. Obtain for us Grace, mercy, and courage, and defend us from every evil. Amen

Blessing a Meal

Blessing before a Meal

• V/. Bless us O Lord, and these your gifts, which we are about to receive, from thy bounty, through Christ, our Lord.
• R/. Amen.

Thanksgiving after a Meal

• V/. We give you thanks, Almighty God, for all your benefits, who live and reign, world without end.
• R/. Amen.
• V/. May the Lord grant us His peace. And life everlasting.
• R/. Amen

 

The Holy Rosary

How to pray the Rosary?

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

V/. O God come to my aid;

R/. O Lord, make haste to help me.

V/. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

R/. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

At the beginning of each decade, announce the “mystery” to be contemplated, for example, the first joyful mystery is “The Annunciation”.

After a short pause for reflection, recite the “Our Father”, ten “Hail Marys” and the “Glory be to the Father”.

An invocation may be added after each decade.

At the end of the Rosary, the Loreto Litany or some other Marian prayer is recited.

Joyful Mysteries (Mondays and Saturdays)

1. The Annunciation
2. The Visitation
3. The Birth of Our Lord
4. The Presentation in the Temple
5. The finding of Jesus in the temple

Mysteries of light (Thursdays)

1. The Baptism in the Jordan
2. The wedding feast of Cana
3. The proclamation of the kingdom of God
4. The Transfiguration
5. The institution of the Eucharist

Sorrowful mysteries (Tuesdays and Fridays)

1. The agony in the Garden
2. The scourging at the pillar
3. The crowning with thorns
4. The carrying of the cross
5. The crucifixion

Glorious mysteries (Wednesdays and Sundays)

1. The Resurrection
2. The Ascencion
3. The descent of the Holy Spirit
4. The Assumption
5. The crowning of Our Lady Queen of Heaven

 

The Litany of Loreto

V/. Lord have mercy	R/. Lord have mercy
V/. Christ have mercy	R/. Christ have mercy
V/. Lord have mercy	R/. Lord have mercy
V/. Christ hear us	R/. Christ hear us
V/. Christ graciously hear us	R/. Christ graciously hear us
V/. God, the Father of heaven	R/. have mercy on us
V/. God the Son, Redeemer of the world	R/. have mercy on us
V/. God the Holy Spirit	R/. have mercy on us
V/. Holy Trinity, one God	R/. have mercy on us

 

 

V/. Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, R/. spare us, O Lord.

V/. Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, R/. graciously hear us, O Lord.

V/. Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, R/. have mercy on us.

V/. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. R/. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray.

Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord God, that we, your servants, may enjoy perpetual health of mind and body; and by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, may be delivered from present sorrow, and obtain eternal joy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy; hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us; and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Amen.

Guide for Confession

The basic requirement for a good Confession is to have the intention of returning to God like the “prodigal son” and to acknowledge our sins with true sorrow before his representative, the priest.

Examination of conscience

Recall your sins. Calmly ask yourself what you have done with full knowledge and full consent against God’s and the Church’s Commandments.

• When was my last good Confession? Did I receive Communion or other sacraments in the state of mortal sin? Did I intentionally fail to confess some mortal sin in my previous Confession?
• Did I seriously doubt my faith or put myself in danger of losing my faith through readings hostile to Catholic teachings or involvement in non-Catholic sects?
• Did I engage in superstitious practices: palm-reading, fortune telling, etc.?
• Did I take the name of God in vain? Did I curse, or take a false oath?
• Did I miss Mass on Sundays or holy days of obligation through my own fault, without any serious reason? Did I keep fast and abstinence on the prescribed days?
• Did I disobey my parents and lawful superiors in important matters?
• Did I hate or quarrel with anyone, or desire revenge? Did I refuse to forgive? Did I hurt or cause to kill someone?
• Did I get drunk? Did I take illicit drugs? Did I consent to, recommend, advise or actively take part in an abortion?
• Did I willfully look at indecent pictures or watch immoral movies? Did I read immoral books or magazines?
• Did I engage in impure jokes or conversations? Did I willfully entertain impure thoughts or feelings? Did I commit impure acts, alone or with others?
• Did I take contraceptive or abortifacient pills or use other artificial means in order to prevent conception?
• Did I steal or damage another’s property? How much? Have I made reparation for the damages done? Have I been dishonest in my business relations?
• Did I tell lies? Did I sin by calumny, or detraction telling the unknown grave faults of others without necessity, even if they are true?
• Did I judge others rashly in serious matters? Have I tried to make restitution for the bad reputation I caused?

If you remember other serious sins besides those indicated here, mention them in your Confession.

Act of contrition

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell; but most of all because they offend you, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve with the help of your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.

You may now go to Confession.

Rite of reconciliation

After the customary greetings, the penitent crosses himself as the priest says:

V/. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

R/. Amen.

The priest may say:

May the Lord be in your heart and help you to confess your sins with true sorrow.

Either the priest or the penitent may read or say by heart some words taken from the Holy Scripture about the mercy of God and repentance, e.g.:

Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.

The penitent accuses himself of his sins. The priest gives the opportune advice, imposes the penance on him, and invites the penitent to manifest his contrition. The penitent may say for example:

Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

The priest gives him the absolution:

God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church, may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

The penitent answers: Amen.

The priest dismisses the penitent with this or any other formulae:

May the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of all the saints, whatever good you do and suffering you endure, heal your sins, help you to grow in holiness, and reward you with eternal life. Go in peace.

The penitent should fulfill the penance imposed.